Three-Point Play by Todd Hafer

for the first time from a script.
    Cody smacked his knuckles against his friend’s. “Yeah, you too. Don’t want you falling asleep during the ceremony.”
    â€œJust think, Code, we don’t have enough practices to play this weekend, but next weekend we’ll be suiting up and playing hoops again. After playing varsity football, frosh hoops will be too easy. I bet we run the table—go undefeated!”
    Mr. Porter chuckled. “You best focus on the business at hand: your first game of the season, next week. You’re talkin’ about chickens that ain’t hatched yet. Now, quit your jawin’ and let young Mr. Martin get inside. He’s got a rehearsal dinner to get to.”
    Cody was standing in front of the refrigerator weighing his pre-dinner snack options when he heard the doorbell. Somehow, he knew it would be Beth.
    â€œHi,” he said, summoning all the cheer he could muster and injecting it into his voice. “Come on in. Dad’s not home yet. Probably still at work.”
    â€œActually,” she said, stepping across the threshold and into the living room, “he’s already over at the church. I’m your ride tonight. Because, Cody, I want to talk to you. I’m not interrupting you, am I?”
    â€œNah,” Cody said, taking a seat at the far end of the living room couch. Beth sat down at the other end, rotating her torso so that she faced him.
    â€œI’ve been meaning to call you, but I thought a personal visit was more appropriate,” she began.
    Cody felt his heart accelerating. I wonder what this is about , he thought. I mean, the wedding is back on, but maybe something’s changed.
    Beth’s voice was quiet, more subdued than usual. “Cody,” she continued, “Luke—uh, I mean, your dad, told me how you sort of stood up for me over the whole alleged flirtation thing.”
    â€œYeah?” Cody said, hoping Beth wouldn’t note the suspicion in his voice.
    â€œWell, I just want to thank you. Look, I know that you are not exactly thrilled about my marrying your dad tomorrow. So I know it took a lot of courage and integrity to do what you did. I mean, that could have been the thing that killed our plans—or at least put them on hold for a while. I’m not sure how you found it in yourself to defend me, but I’m so thankful you did. I’m blown away, in fact. I should have thanked you sooner, but—”
    Cody got the sense that Beth was struggling to hold back tears. “I really can’t take credit for what I did,” he explained. “It was a God thing. He showed me what I needed to do. My part was just to obey.”
    Beth nodded. “I’m thankful you did. It means a lot. Look, I’m not going to give you a big speech or anything, because I’m sure you have so much on your mind and heart already. But I’ll just say this: All I’m asking for is a chance. I care about you. We’ll find a way to make this work. Okay?”
    â€œOkay,” Cody whispered.
    â€œYou know, I love you.”
    The words froze in Cody’s brain. Some people say I love you just like tossing you a ball during a game of catch, he thought. They expect you to toss the words right back. Like a reflex or something. It’s not fair. If you don’t say it back, it’s like taking somebody else’s ball and walking home with it.
    He felt the scrutiny of Beth’s gaze on him. “Uh—” he began.
    She smiled reassuringly. “You don’t have to say anything back, homeboy. I don’t want you to say it until you mean it. But I hope that day will come sometime.”
    Cody nodded.
    â€œAnd you don’t have to call me Mom or anything like that. You call me whatever you want—well, within reason anyway.”
    Cody forced a laugh. “Well, you always call me homeboy, maybe you should be homegirl.”
    â€œYou think your dad will go for that?